48 CFR · Federal Acquisition Regulation and Defense supplement

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The codified text (eCFR, as of 2026-10-02). Under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul ↗, agencies follow class deviations with new text for many parts while the formal rules go through the Federal Register: check the solicitation and your contract's clauses, which rule.

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9 sections with “unsolicited research proposal”

  • FAR 15.607 Criteria for acceptance and negotiation of an unsolicited proposal.
    (a) A favorable comprehensive evaluation of an unsolicited proposal does not, in itself, justify awarding a contract without providing for full and open competition. The agency point of contact shall return an unsolicited proposal to the of…
  • FAR 2.101 Definitions.
    …ses to requests for quotations (simplified acquisition) are “quotations”, not offers. For unsolicited proposals, see subpart 15.6. Offeror means offeror or bidder. Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization means the Office of…
  • FAR 15.603 General.
    (a) Unsolicited proposals allow unique and innovative ideas or approaches that have been developed outside the Government to be made available to Government agencies for use in accomplishment of their missions. Unsolicited proposals are off…
  • FAR 15.604 Agency points of contact.
    … contact with agency technical or other appropriate personnel before preparing a detailed unsolicited proposal or submitting proprietary information to the Government may save considerable time and effort for both parties (see 15.201). Agen…
  • FAR 5.202 Exceptions.
    …982 (Pub. L. 97-219); (8) The proposed contract action results from the acceptance of an unsolicited research proposal that demonstrates a unique and innovative concept (see 2.101) and publication of any notice complying with 5.207 would i…
  • FAR 5.301 General.
    …d under paragraph (a)(1) of this section if— (1) The award results from acceptance of an unsolicited research proposal that demonstrates a unique and innovative research concept and publication of any notice would disclose the originality …
  • FAR 6.302-1 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.
    …ces may be considered to be available from only one source if the source has submitted an unsolicited research proposal that: (A) Demonstrates a unique and innovative concept (see definition at 2.101), or, demonstrates a unique capability …
  • FAR 15.602 Policy.
    … topic areas publicized under those programs or techniques, the ideas may be submitted as unsolicited proposals.
  • FAR 35.007 Solicitations.
    …negotiate directly with the concern without competition. Also see subpart 15.6 concerning unsolicited proposals. (j) The Government may issue an exploratory request to determine the existence of ideas or prior work in a specific field of r…

FAR (chapter 1)

DFARS (chapter 2, Defense)

Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Rule changes in progress: FAR, DFARS. Terms: glossary.